Multiple-effect fuse for artillery-projectiles.



E. BIMAILHO. MULTIPLE EFFECT FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES. APPLICATION msn MM5. |915.

E. RIMAILHO. MULTIPLE EFFECT FUSE FOR ARTILLERY POIECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1915.

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MULTIPLE EFFECT FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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EMILE RIMAILHO, OF PARIS. FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO COMPAGNIE DES FORGES-ET ACIERIES DE LA MARINE ET DHOMECOURT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

MULTIPLE-EFFECT FUSE FOR ARTILLERY-PROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. lltcntcd Aug. 2&1., 191,7,

Application filed May 5, 1915. Serial No. 25,969.

scribed hereinafter-will be obtained, it being taken into account that shells ofthe said type contain a charge of powder for the projection ot bullets and also an explosive charge.

The setting of the by hand in the constructional form contemplated in two different ways. To this `endit is mounted on the fuse carrier through .the medium of a spring controlled ring; draw-- ing the tuse iiran upward direction so as toeompress thespring', the locks -are disengagefh rotation is effected andtheloeks retracted by the spring into the notches of the new position. in the first position, the tiring,l of the composition of the time fuse produced by the operation of 'a' special eoncussion device described hereinafter, is directed toward a tube communicating with the rear i charge 'in the second positionthe' ire is directed through another channel toward the axis of the fuse in order'to detonate .the explosive charge of the projectile.

inst antaneously ln this manner two effects are obtained;

the usingeiect for shrapnel and the ex- Vplosive fusing efect,`but both cases the fuse 'is arranged in sucha manner that the shell can operate by percussion 'on hitting the object aimed at either through the intermediary of an ignition retarding device or by impact. 'Finally a fifth. "When the fuse is to the production of shrapnel ignition, the forward part of the shell-'containing the explosive may either operate inefectively on impact or' 'tail -to effect is still possible.

operate at all and in order to avoid {ihrs/.3.1 drawbacks provisions are made tor insuring in -every-casethe ignition ot' the esplosivo through the medium ot' the retin-ding charge or at the moment the shrapnel bursts.

The instantaneous or retarded p crciissive 9S Rue de la Victoire,

fuse may beA adjusted ling,

effects as aforesaid, are obtained by the provision ot a central part the wholeot which constitutes a double acting percussive deto- .nating fuse merely screwed into the body, of the time fuse, but which vmay be lixed direetly in the nose of the explosive shelly when it is not desired to operate with a time fuse.

The provision of a double acting percussive 'del'i'inating 'fuse has for its object to combine a pcrcussive system provided with a rotar-ding charge, with thc impact detonatinl;` means. iustant'ancousness ot the operationimplying the elimination ot the delay inherent to pcrcussive devices basedv upon the 4utilization of thc longitudinal inertia,

vthe instantaneously 'operating system being,

however, usable without the `adjunction of the pereuss ve system with the retarding charge. i i

`One constructional form of. the invention is illustrated, by way of example; inthe accompanyingidrawlngs.

l1 igure l illustrates the complete multiple eect fuse, .Y l i' Fig.,r 2 .illustrates 'the time fuse 'alone' mounted on a projectile, l

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate respectivelythe perci'issive system, detached yfrom the time fuse in-the inoperative positionv before the projectile is fired,v and in the operative position of the instantaneous percu'ssive system,

Fig. 5 shows a-treble actingfu'se obtained bythe eliminationot' the spring controlled Fig. G is a developed viewot the eoncussive 'system whichjgnites the powder ring of the regulators onfiring the projectile,' i

Fig. T is a 'section through the centrifugal Ypellets ot' the instantaneous percussive systeni. l

The fuse illustrated in Fig. Lis provided at its base' with a screw-threaded ring l constantly retained inthe recess 2 'formed in4 thabody of the fuse, by the spring which bears on the flange 4. The upper cylindrical' part ot the 2. is provided withnotches for facilitating the scrinving in position of thesame.

screw-threads "of arei-.aiised in lthe lir'st place by hund.; lo ,'ingag'e threads loi-ined ln the luso carrier,

is raised by rompiessiupr llu` spring 3 by the i llange l, this raisingA nioveineriil uncovering ring whichfpenetrates l'the-recess i the fuse AIl ' mitting the fire to the rear charge, or in the screwing notches of the ring and by means of a key, the whole thing is screwed home completely. The screw-threaded ring is subsequently locked in place by' means of a lock stud 5.

vThe fuse carrier is formed upon its upper edge with rectangular notches 6 intended to `recelve the pins 7 projecting underneath the plate of the fuse body. When the screwthreaded ring 1 is screwed home, it is suiiicient to turn the fuse by hand in order to bring the pins 7 in a position facing the notches 6; under the pressure of the spring 3 the pins enter the notches and the fuse is locked in position. l

In the thickness of the body of the fuse itselfA and starting Afrom the upper surface of' the plate serving as a support for the regulatorsa fire transmitting channel 8 is formed which opens on the lower surface of the body 9 of the fuse at a point set-olf from the longitudinal axis ofthe projectile. The channel 8 may be brought, by rotating` the fuse, into the position illustrated in Fig. l, in communication with the conduit transcommunication with the conduit -56 diametrically opposite, leading to the detonator 22 through the conduits 53.

The two regulators 10, 11, are mounted in known manner onv the plate of the body of the fuse, but the upper fixed regulator 11 has this peculiarity that it carries the inembers of the concussive system intended to produce the ignition of the fuse cord on firinor the shot,as shown in Fig. 6. To this en the circular groove 12 is formed on the upper face. of the regulator and serves as a seat for a blade spring 13 carrying at its end, a percussion pin 14; underneath the latter a primer 15 is provided, communicating` through the conduit 16 with the fuse cord 17 (Fig. 6). l

Finally the body of the fuse is formed i-n its` center and-throughout its length, with a cylindrical aperture 1S, (Fig. 2) intended to receive the whole of the detonato-r and the percussive members.

The whole of the detonator and of the percussive system constitutes a double acting percussive detonating fuse, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, detached from the time fuse.

A sleeve 19 hollowed out cylindrically, isv

closed at its lower part by a plug-like member 20 upon which the casing 21 is screwed,

containing the detonator 22; a central cylindrical body 23 constituted by two parts assembled by a driven tit at 24, is formed internally with a chamber 25 which serves for housing the percussive system of known disposition.

The safety device of this apparatus is con stituted by centrifugal masses 26 arresting the igniting members in the inoperative po- Sition as shown in Fig. 3, by means of a 'on the spring 54.

The rear portion of the central body is formed with a cylindrical boss 31 projecting in a downward direction, in which a cylindrical member 32 containing the retarding 75 device is screwed, in Which there is located a small amount of compressed powder 33; the said member extends through the plug 2O and extends into the casing of the detonator 22 and is terminated by a percussion pin 34 formed at 35 with two orifices intended for the passage of the gas produced by the ignition of the powder charge 33.

The upper face of the plug 2O is formed with a seat for the centrifugal masses 36 serving as stops for the rear of the central body 23. lVhen thesemasses 36 are in place in their seats the percussion pin 34 of the central body 23 is maintained at a suitable distance above the detonator 22.'

The cylindrical recess of the sleeve 19 in which the central body is located, is closed at the forward end by the cup-shaped member 44 retained in place by means of a screw- -threaded ring 43 screwed on to the sleeve 19.

The foiwvard edge of the central body 23 carries a rod 37 which traverses the cu-pshaped member 44 centrally. Upon this rod there are provided za square member 40 engaging an aperture of similar cross-section formed in the said cup-shaped member and a head piece 38 screwed or riveted on the forward end.-

The square member 40 insures the operation of the central body during the rotary movement. The head 38 fixes on the rod 37 the sleeve 47 the flexible hooks 42 of which support at the rear a pellet 46. So long as the pellet 46 is supported bythe hooks 42 it remains longitudinally integral with the central body 23.

A spring 45 resting on the cup-shaped member 44, pushes constantly ina forward direction the pellet 46 and therewith the whole of the central body. This forward stroke is limited by an inner projection formed on the screw-threaded ring 43. In this position, a suitable clearance 39 is reserved betweenthe cup-shaped member 44 and the .forward edge of the central body 23, said clearance permitting subsequently of the disengagement of the pellets 36 when the body 23 will be able to effect a stroke in a forward direction. The screw-threaded ring 43 exceeds the forward edge of the sleeve 19 and the apparent height ofthe screw-thread is intended to receive a nut 48 abutting against the forward edge of the saidsleeve 19. vWhen the nut or cap 48 is 1n place, the central body 23 being locked 13'0 these conditions theprimer 49 being lockedl by the pellets 26, is disengaged when the proj ect-ile rotates under the e'tiect of the eentrifugal :torce which separates the pellets.

Q6. Owing` to the shock which isproduced when the projectile strikes an object, this primer Je!) strikes its percussion pin 30 and thc fire is propagated to the detonator 22 thrmigh (he. medium ot the retardine" powder charge ZSC-,

lllhen on the contrary, vthe cap d8 before the introduction of thel projectile into the gun, removed, the explosion takes place instantaueousljY on the striking` ofen object by the projectile, in the following man.-

ner

On tiring, the pellet 46 :iets by its inertia in known niannerand the evpansionv of the spring l5 which talie's place after having lei't the barrel ot' the gun, has for its effect to push the central body Q3 in a forward direction through the medium of the hooks el? the ends et which are located in the groove il. The forward movement of the central body 23 is limited by the cup-shaped member lit and the tip ill ot' the lower percussion pin moves away trom the detonator to the extent-of a few millimeters. y lu this position the pellets 3G can, under the etl'eet of the retardation, advance beyond btheir seat and move away under the etl'ect 'of the centrifugal torce, the projectile having begun its movement of rotation. Owing to this double movement, they take place? in the annular space 51 provided round the boss 31.

On impact, the head 3S being the lirst of the shell which strikes the obstacle,

"fuse producing the explosion ot' the detonator 22 by the point 34 as soon as the pro,-

jectilehas traveled al few millimeters after' the shock. j C

The lift'th ellect indicated above by `means ot whichpwhen the projectile operates as shrapnel the lire is communicated to thev eX- plosve'eharge through the medium ot the relai-ding charge. is obtained by the spe- `cial.disposition ot the upper percussion pin 'A0, which as shown in ll`rgs.V 1,3 and 4 ilistead ot' being fixed to the central body 23,

is maintained b vajspring 54 pusl1ing-the same lira 'torward direct-lon and rests 1n a known disposition. 'When shooting with theJ permissive mechanism operative at the moment the projectile strikes its target and a shoelv' takes place, everything is performed as it the percussion pin 30 had been fixed to the central body 23 because its inertia ap# plies it on to its base; when the shell operates as a shrapnel, on the contrary, the headof the projectile receives an extray impulse in a forward direction owing to the explosion, the percussion pin 30 compresses its spring 5l and strikes the primer 49;'thetef'- feet is then transmitted to the detonator 22 through the retarding chargel-SS. A j When in the 4general device illustrated in Fig. l, the settting ring l is eliminatedythe, device illustrated' in Fig. 5 is obtainedin which the. body of the tuse itself is formed with the screw-thread which connects the same to the fuse carrier. The fuse can no longe-r be set: one ot the two 'effects ot the 'fuse is lost. This device therefore can provide a fuse ha ving three, effects-for explosive shells. The tire transmitting channel conimunieates d irectlv with the deton/ator through the medium et Ithe powder chamber 52 and` l the conduits '53 termed in lthe member '20. 'lhe sln'apnel'ellect existing no longer, the, percussion pin el rlu\. jwiei1ssi\'e system comprising the retardinev device, is rendered integral with the central body 23 as clearlyl illustrated in Fig. 5. v

Should it be desired to mount a time :fuse on the shrapuel and should it'be desired to preserve only the time ett'cet and the instantaneous percussive ell'ect, it is'sullicient to'A provide in theI recess iS ot the time fuse, a

. simplitied. deton'ator having only the provisions deseribfnl above 'referring to instan-V 100 taneous operation, exelllding the devices-for, operation ot' thecentral percussion pin act' ing on the retardiug charge.

fl. In a multiple fuse for projectiles, a 10S fuse' carrier having'oppositely arranged pasl sages, onset which communicates with'al passage leading to the rear charge of the projectile, a fuse body adjustably mounted on the carrier and having a re transmit- 1.10

ting passage adapted to 'register' with Veither of the passages of the carrier, a member iny the fuse body and extending into the fusez carrier,.said member carrying a detonator,..

and having a passage communicating with 115 thefother passage of the carrier. A

2. Ina multiple fuse for projectiles, a

fuse' carrier having notches, a iii'i'se bodyA 'mounted to turn on the fuse carrier and provided with projections eugaging'the notches 120 of the carrier,v and means for lockirigtlie` projections in the notches.

3. ln a multiple fuse for projectiles, a' fuse carrier having notches, a fuse body mounted to turn "on the carricr'fand having 125 projections engaging the notches,- and-'aspring for permitting the tree turning of the body and for holding the projections-in the notches. i

4. In Ia multiple fuse `for projectiles, a

' 4o longitudinally movable core in the sleeve vand carrying'a firing pin at one end, said fuse body, two regulator rings mounted on the body one above the other, the lower one carrying a fuse, the upper ring having a groove and a .passage leading from ythe groove to the fuse and provided with a rimer and a spring actuated percussion pin 1n saidgroove.

jIna multiple fuse for projectiles, a

y sleeve having a detonator at one end, a longtudinally movable core in the sleeve, said core lcarrying a primer and having a pas-v the chamber of the core, and having one.

end reduced, a headed tiring pin mounted in the reduced end of the tube with its head engaging the end of the chamber, and a spring surrounding the reduced end of said tube.

7. In a multiple fuse for projectiles, a sleeve carrying a detonator at one end, a longitudinally movable core in the sleeve and carrying a {i1-ing pin at one end, said r core having a chamber intermediate of its ends, and a seat in said` chamber, centrifugally operated members in the chamber and adapted to rest on the seat and in engagement with the core, and means for re- 1taining'the same members on the seat.

`8. In. a multiple fuse for projectiles, a sleeve carrying a detonator at one end, `a

core having a chamber intermediate of its ends and a seat in said chamber, centrifugally operated members in the chamber and adapted 'to rest on the seat and in engagement with' the core, and a spring pressed tube in the core and engaging the said members to hold them'on the seat.

9. In a multiple fuse for projectiles, a

sleeve, having a seat in its lower end, a detonator casing and carrying a iiring pin,

centrifugally voperated members in the cha1nber and adapted to rest on the said seat in Aengagement with thecore, means for holding the members on the seat,1and centrifugally operated members adapted to rest in the seat in the end of the sleeve.

10. In a multiple fuse for projectiles, a

sleeve carrying a detonator at one end, and having an apertured partition at its other end, a longitudinally movable core in the sleeve and having one end reduced and carrying a firing pin at its other end, a member surrounding the reduced' end of the core, means including a head for connecting the said member with the reduced end of the core, a spring between the 'said member and the partition of the sleeve, movable and centrifugally operated members for controlling the movement of the core, and a cap over said head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at St. Etienne, France, this third day of April, 1915.

' EMILE RIMAILHO.

In the presence of two witnesses:

l. VorlLL, Davis B. Levis. 

